Which dog breed makes the best pet? – Part 2

I’ve had thirty-five years of Standard Poodles. Bernie, Sidney, Anni and now, Charley! Standard poodles are a great breed, wonderful for families and a good companion singles or couples!

The dog we know this day as the Standard Poodle was originally a German dog, a water retreiver that was called “pudelin” meaning ‘splashing in water’. The French used these water dogs on their estates and trimmed their coats in a aqua-dynamic fashion to protect the dog’s’ joints and vital body parts from long exposure in cold water. Later, when Poodles became a breed and a show dog, the cut became extreme and much of the visual lineage of the dog was lost.

I never really did any training with the poodles that I had. In my own experience, they just learn so much by being with us. If we didn’t like the puppy peeing on the floor it was some loud words and then, outside. A couple experiences of that and the pups knew where to go. Standard Poodles are very reactive, they can see what you're thinking. A very notable vet in Connecticut told me that poodles are actually. an ancient dog, that their brain circuitry and anatomy go way back to Egypt. I can't substantiate this, however, this has been evidenced in my own relationship with the Standards that I've at times been in situations where I was glad I had a protector at house or someone I had to deal with at the front door when my husband was away. Basically, this is empirical knowledge, just based on my life and the lives of the poodles I have had in my life. I just wanted to put in a good word, for all of them.

One interesting anecdote about Anni, who I had for fifteen years and still miss very much. We traveled a lot, and on one occasion, after a full day on the road, I nchecked into a motel in Savannah, GA. I was tired and hungry and put Anni in the room and dumped the bags on the floor and went to the nearby restaurant for a swift sandwich. The wind picked up outside, and as I waited for long, long minutes at a table, I could hear the wind whistling in the front windows. Finally, the waiter arrived, I ordered, and much later, I got my sandwich. By then it was nearly dark. I had saved a bit of the sandwich for Anni, as I usually did, and went back to the motel room. I was shocked to see that the door was open and ran in a panic up the parking lot. The wind was really swirling paper cups and debris around now and rain was whipping with the wind. When I reach the doorway, there was Anni, peering out from the darkness inside. Her eyes glowed with happiness to see me and I hugged her, “Oh, good girl. Thank you!” I said.

A women appeared from the adjoining room, gathering her robe about her in the wind.

“Oh, there you are! I was worried. When the door blew open, I saw that your dog was in there. I was so afraid she would run out and away-but I guess she just stayed in there, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she sure did!” was all I could say. But, as we settled on the bed and I gave Anni the sandwich bits and then her supper, I wasn’t too amazed. We’d been together a long time-she was twelve years old and she knew…she knew where I was and that I would come back-because I always came back.

I could say Anni was a better dog (and she was). But she was also a Standard poodle, and that kind of thinking is very characteristic of them. I would not expect less.

Today, the Standard Poodle remains a good sound breed that can provide a wonderful friend to a single person, a couple or a family. I total endorse this breed and hope, if you are looking for a dog, that you'll think about the Standard Poodle!